Sometimes you just need a little help!
Well, friends, I have to share with you a problem that I had recently.
As most of you know, I quit my corporate gig to pursue my lifelong dreams-
Cooking
Photography
Connecting people through food
All while creating my lifestyle brand that is well known and provides valuable content and products for people worldwide.
I know, I know, these are BIG DREAMS right?!
Well…. While my business is growing my projects are multiplying like little bunnies, I developed a problem that I needed to solve-I needed a workspace. I am a very visual person, so I have what I lovingly call my little project piles. My project piles were slowly but surely taking over my house-kitchen, bedroom, everywhere but a home office.
So, I said to myself, time to finally move my “office” from the Farm Table to a proper office space. An amazing space where my creativity can flow, visions develop, projects get completed and I enjoy working in the room.
Easy right? All I need to do is gather my piles, hang my favorite picture, set up a desk in a spare bedroom and viola-I have a home office.
Sounds simple, I moved all my stuff to my “office”, set my desk up and boom….what a letdown. I was uninspired, unorganized, and really didn’t feel like me or my brand. I was not comfortable working in my office and honestly, it was very unproductive working in a space I didn’t love. This was a very tough concept for me to accept-why can I not get this space right? I am creative and design spaces really well-I created my perfect kitchen, my backyard is just the way I envisioned it, I can set a really pretty table with my eyes closed (well not really closed) and WHY in the world can I not get my office just right? Well….after months of pondering and fretting over this space, I decided this project was just too important to me and I needed help! Asking for creative help from someone else was an odd concept for me to understand…..Why would I need help from someone else to create a space? Geez, this is what I get paid to do for others. Well, I didn’t have any options left so I turned to google. Google is where I go when I need help fixing a broken light, figuring out what time zone Tuscany is in….why not use google for interior design help? Well….I hit the google JACKPOT and found Katie Zeller at Ash Drive Design.
Katie came to see my space and I told her what my “musts” were for this space:
An old damaged painting of my dads’ horses that was left to me and is dear to my heart.
A large drafting table that I bought at a garage sale 20 years ago
My first antique rug
My love for rustic meets glam
I explained to Katie that this place was really important to me. This is the start of my whole 2nd act and it needed to be perfect. This space is where I need to accomplish BIG goals for my business, be able to visually see all of my projects and deadlines and a place that I love to be in. Easy right?! Well, obviously not….because I could not wrap my head around this project!
Katie came to the rescue! She presented to me 3 different “concepts sheets.” Each completely different but with all the must-haves incorporated seamlessly.
She picked out color palettes from colors in the painting of the horses. She suggested painting the ceiling one color and the doors this amazing dark grey brown color…and she even has a vision for the inside of the closets.
Katie also incorporated my need to “visualize” everything that I am working on. She suggested an entire cork board wall…THAT I LOVE. It has my projects, yearly calendar, key clients and even a space for my clipping and inspiration. Yippee! No more straggly images laying around.
I also love the idea of this wall. Katie and I were just chatting about being small business owners. I said how sometimes I feel like I’m just killing it and feeling accomplished but most of the time it feels like the opposite.crickets. She said, well think about all you accomplished last year. I thought about it and rattled off my favorite memories…and she said you need to be reminded of these things.
And boom, she created my “accomplished” wall. It has several framed photos that remind me of what I have conquered in my 2nd act. I would have never thought of this idea, but it is nice to look at the images, reflect on what I have accomplished and to be grateful for being able to do what I love. And also said you can add to it each year. Like when I’m on a Today Show segment with Hoda and stuff;) Hee Hee.
I love this drafting table. This table I bought at a garage sale 20 years ago. As you can see, this room is designed to have the desk in the alcove and looking out the window to the backyard. Although I like looking at my backyard, I do not like having my back to the door of the office. I was never comfortable with this configuration and Katie solved this problem for me as well.
Anyhoo, This project turned out absolutely perfect for me. I just love all the little details. I could not have created this perfect space without help.
I learned a very valuable lesson-sometimes you just have to let a project go and seek help. Katie had a fresh perspective on this space that I just couldn’t have developed on my own. She had incredible ideas that I never would have thought of. And now….watch out, I have and empire to create! Heehee (I mean a to-do list to knock out) Thanks a billion Katie!
PS: if you want to check out Katies website…click here. She’s fantastic. (I may be a fan:).
xx,
L